Type of Ballast on Portable Railways?

[justme igor]

My mistake, i was referring to a other material than per-lite or vermiculite, can't remember the name.(not the first time btw...same forum btw!)
This material is also used for single sided chimneys but water resistant, non absorb also very high temperature isolation.
It was silica or calcium based or ? something

The material i have is perlite or vermiculite (cant remember anymore) mixed with some cement to bond.
It is used for a chimney.
It can be bought as 0-1,5 mm from 0-3mm and from 0-5mm

Perlte is a bit cheaper
Sorry for the mistake.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Just to be clear, vermiculite, the mineral, is processed to many different forms. The "expanded" stuff is designed to hold water. The solid stuff can be used with mortar/cement and can be impermable, but it is a weird mineral that can attack metals.

Just wanted to warn people, I know a guy who experimented with this stuff and kitty litter... the result was not good.

So, while I believe some forms of the mineral might work, unfortunately it's often hard to get specifics on these materials when we buy them as ordinary consumers and use them for a different purpose.

Greg

 

[Trainman58]

What about going to a plastic extruding business and getting ground up plastic. I use that and glue it down with watered down PVA. It is light and you can get it in gray and black. It also makes a good tip wagon load if you are filling them and unloading the wagons as a working set.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Yeah, might work, and last a while, although you would want a mix of shades to look realistic.

I'd say that's a definite lightweight idea with no danger of chemical action against the track.

Greg

 

[FatherMcD]

What about going to a plastic extruding business and getting ground up plastic. I use that and glue it down with watered down PVA. It is light and you can get it in gray and black. It also makes a good tip wagon load if you are filling them and unloading the wagons as a working set.

Sounds interesting! Do you have any pictures of this application?

 

[Trainman58]

Here is the grey plastic I was talking about.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Looks good, can you show a picture as ballast so we can see the size relative to the ties?

 

[FatherMcD]

Here is the grey plastic I was talking about.View attachment 288182

That does indeed look good. I'll have to see if there any plastic extruding businesses in the Northwest that can supply some. Thank you.

 

[Paul M]

Interestingly, the latest Garden Rail magazine's editorial suggests using 1-3mm Silver Granite. Apparently available from Derbyshire Aggregates. It looks good in the picture

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Granite is what we use, it's neutral, and lasts forever.

Limestone is popular, but alkaline, which can attack some rails and fasteners.

Marble is also alkaline, not as bad as limestone.


Greg

 

[justme igor]

pickle it with some harsh resin and it will look great..
Just like the stuff i have, but you must not pickle it all for your show.....only some fixed pieces